Buce Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 ...but the Tories can: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33974674 The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted using made-up stories from fictional claimants to demonstrate the positive impact of benefit sanctions.A DWP leaflet featured one welfare claimant, "Sarah", who said she was "really pleased" a cut to her benefits had encouraged her to improve her CV.But after a Freedom of Information request by website Welfare Weekly, the DWP said they were not real claimants.The stories were for "illustrative purposes only", it added.Under the sanctions system - introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith - people can lose benefits for anywhere between a few weeks and three years if they fail to meet the government's requirements for jobseekers.Stephen Timms, Labour's acting shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "You couldn't make it up - but it seems Iain Duncan Smith can. The only way he can find backers for his sanctions regime is by inventing them." 'Stock photos' The leaflet features the apparent stories of two sickness benefit claimants, Sarah and Zac."Sarah" - whose story features alongside a woman's picture - says she failed to complete a CV despite agreeing to do so on her work "action plan"."I didn't have a good reason for not doing it and I was told I'd lose some of my payment. I decided to complete the CV and told my work coach," she says.Sarah says her benefits were cut for two weeks, but now she is "really pleased with how my CV looks" and it will really help her find a job.Zac, meanwhile, says he let his work coach know when he was going to miss a meeting and because he did so, "my benefit payment hasn't changed".According to Welfare Weekly, the response to its Freedom of Information request from the DWP said the images used were "stock photos and along with the names do not belong to real claimants".The DWP later said in a statement: "The case studies were used for illustrative purposes to help people understand how the benefit system works. They're based on conversations our staff have had with claimants."They have now been removed to avoid confusion".The system of benefits sanctions - introduced under the coalition government - has been accused of having a detrimental impact on some claimants.Earlier this year, the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee called for an independent inquiry into the way the sanctions were applied, saying that in some cases they were causing food poverty and "severe financial hardship".Mr Timms added: "Instead of fabricating quotes pretending the system is working, [iain Duncan Smith] should scrap unfair sanctions targets for jobcentre staff and do more to protect vulnerable people from facing benefit sanctions."
Voll Blau Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 They could've at least made the quotes sound realistic. Nobody's ever going to use language like "I didn't have a good reason for not doing it and was told I'd lose some of my payment" FFS. It's so needlessly threatening. Trust, encouragement, reward, loyalty... satisfaction.
pSinatra Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 The articles are patently bullshit & patronising. Just because people haven't got a job, it doesn't mean they are f**king stupid. The worst thing about that article is that job centre staff are referred to as 'work coaches'. Tories this time, but I wouldn't think any other party would behave any differently.
The Railway Man Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 You realise the DWP isn't the Conservative party?
johnny the fox Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 queuing at this food bank has got me so much fitter...I feel great!
Guest MattP Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 You'd have to be pretty biased to want to make a big deal of this but not actually want to talk about the amount of people the same government has got back into work.
Buce Posted 18 August 2015 Author Posted 18 August 2015 You realise the DWP isn't the Conservative party? The DWP is a government department. Remind us: which party is in government?
Rincewind Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 You realise the DWP isn't the Conservative party? IDS is head of it. Just seen this I do not know how anyone can defend these actions. The DWP are the mouthpiece for the Tories. Their actions are as a result of government policies. That cannot be denied as IDS has frequently defence them for not making FOI requests public and then only agreeing to a watered down version citing in the public interest as an excuse. Strange he. Never agreed before the GE.
Buce Posted 18 August 2015 Author Posted 18 August 2015 You'd have to be pretty biased to want to make a big deal of this but not actually want to talk about the amount of people the same government has got back into work. You'd have to be extremely biased to try and gloss over government deception with shameless 'whataboutary'.
Guest MattP Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 It's two pictures both with comments encouraging people to find work, it's incredible you've got worked up by it. The way you talk it's like you think it's a right to free money rather than job seekers allowance (clue is in the name) people should know they will be sanctioned if they don't produce a CV.
Rincewind Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 The point is being missed on as wide a mark than Are Akinbyi shot. Insert another play if you wish.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 They should use the same kind of thing for police statistics "I was useless and pathetic until someone came and kicked my head in. Now I have learnt to write by blowing into a tube! All thanks to cuts in policing." Douglas, 35, Coatbridge. "I used to worry about my state-of-the-art home cinema being stolen, but thanks to crimes only being investigated on even numbered houses, I'll never have to worry about it again - I'll just make do with my 22" Matsui," Gerald, 23, Hastings. "I was worried about paying to get my daughter through university, but an increase in the number of hit and runs now means I will be getting carer's allowance instead!" Janine, 53, Cheltenham.
Benji Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 It's like a scene from The Thick of It. You just have to imagine the numerous meetings that will have taken place and the subsequent high-fiving amongst civil servants at how good an idea this was, and at no time does anyone stop for a second and say "hang on a minute, guys, do you think it might look bad if people find out that we've made this up?". That said, it's kind of obvious they're fake. As if anyone threatened with losing their benefits is going to speak out in favour of the punishment
Rincewind Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 If there are so many people pleased that they were sanctioned then took a job at Poundland filling shelves on minimum wage why were they not used to plug the acheivements of the DWP? It would be like finding genuine winners in the prize draws that come through the post. I doubt anyone would say 'Well they may be lieing about the ones they advertise but what about all the ones that have won they have not featured?' The fact is many jobseekers find work soon after being unemployed. Many struggle because lack of qualifications, age, mental ability or varying disabilities and illnesses. The lazy feckers are in the minority and will not worry about sanctions as they will most likely have other sources of income and can find financial support from friends and family.
Lionator Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 You realise the DWP isn't the Conservative party? A bit like saying that the NHS isn't the Labour Party after the mid-staffs crisis.
The Railway Man Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 The DWP is a government department. Remind us: which party is in government? As from the post above. Did Labour murder 2,000 people then in an NHS hospital in Mid-Staffs? You know, given it's a government department.
Wymsey Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 Would hate to work at the Job Centre, though I presume job stability is very high and decent wage.
enmac Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 This woman was so pleased about being sanctioned, she stole some Mars Bars!(ironic) http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/13587194.display/
enmac Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 This woman was so pleased about being sanctioned, she stole some Mars Bars!(ironic) http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/13587194.display/ Read the comments in the link if you want proof that the Tories haven't made everybody a psychopath.(yet)
enmac Posted 18 August 2015 Posted 18 August 2015 This guy got fined £1560 for glassing someone. MattP, can you spot the difference? http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/banker-weeps-as-he-escapes-jail-for-glassing-man-in-club-a2487301.html
Rincewind Posted 19 August 2015 Posted 19 August 2015 Some brilliant responses on Twitter #fakeDWPstories It wasn't a social blog that broke the story it was in the Independant. The blogger just passed the news onto a wider audience. The BBC and ITV News have now reported on it. No matter how much people defend it , the DWP still mislead the public regardless of the reasons. They passed them off as true statements to justify their claims. Why not get genuine cases?
ozleicester Posted 19 August 2015 Posted 19 August 2015 Its pathetic, and more importantly disgusting that governments consider this kind of lying and public brainwashing acceptable. But, that ANYONE...with ANY party allegiances or support would gloss over it is what makes it scary, people are so busy "protecting" their preferred party, that they wont even acknowledge those decisions or behaviours which are blatantly wrong. The reason that governments of all persuasions (and the public servants behind them) feel free to lie to the public, is because they know some party sycophant will stand up and say.. "yeh but what about... blah blah"
ozleicester Posted 19 August 2015 Posted 19 August 2015 This woman was so pleased about being sanctioned, she stole some Mars Bars!(ironic) http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/13587194.display/ Genius - lets fine some one who has no money for food. I cant see this plan failing This guy got fined £1560 for glassing someone. MattP, can you spot the difference? http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/banker-weeps-as-he-escapes-jail-for-glassing-man-in-club-a2487301.html Fvcking Standard, theyve mispelt W anker in that story.
Webbo Posted 19 August 2015 Posted 19 August 2015 Read the comments in the link if you want proof that the Tories haven't made everybody a psychopath.(yet) Oh come on, poor woman steals Mars bars? Why not a sandwich or some meat? If you got arrested would you say you stole because youre a greedy, lazy willy puller or would you make an excuse? Its no wonder these people can't get a job.
Guest MattP Posted 19 August 2015 Posted 19 August 2015 I've seen some excuses in my time but stealing Mars Bars to feed a starving family is pushing the limit a bit, it works with a loaf of bread but I'm not sure the local fatty hiding Willy Wonka's workshop in the baby's pram is going to cause the revolution you are looking for. This guy got fined £1560 for glassing someone. MattP, can you spot the difference?http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/banker-weeps-as-he-escapes-jail-for-glassing-man-in-club-a2487301.html We don't know the facts of the case, for what it's worth I know a builder who glassed someone as well and didn't go to prison, what's your point? You've basically decided this man should go to prison on the basis he's in a well paid job. Its pathetic, and more importantly disgusting that governments consider this kind of lying and public brainwashing acceptable. But, that ANYONE...with ANY party allegiances or support would gloss over it is what makes it scary, people are so busy "protecting" their preferred party, that they wont even acknowledge those decisions or behaviours which are blatantly wrong. The reason that governments of all persuasions (and the public servants behind them) feel free to lie to the public, is because they know some party sycophant will stand up and say.. "yeh but what about... blah blah" Public brainwashing? It's trying to encourage people to do a CV ffs, this is ridiculous. Do you really believe the pictures and quotes in every single government pamplet are to be believed and taken at face value?
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